A small act of kindness each day can mean the world to someone; everyone is fighting battles we may never see.
Growing up as an only child in a small town in Davao del Norte, Jeana Mae Lumpot once believed life would always be smooth sailing, with her parents as her constant guide. Fifteen years into nursing, after working in the Philippines and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, she now cares for patients with Ishraq Home Healthcare in Abu Dhabi, and she has learned to become her own source of strength.
Tested at her lowest
Jhen’s greatest test came when everything felt heavy, a moment when she felt she was at her lowest and faced difficult choices between her career path and personal decisions. “The feeling of being your own only support system can be overwhelming,” she says, “but those moments teach us the importance of staying calm and finding strength within ourselves. Through every storm, I learned to choose kindness over cruelty, compassion over chaos, and hope over fear.”
The unwavering support of her family and friends, and the trust of patients who believe in her capabilities, became her source of strength. Those challenging moments, she says, shaped her into a stronger and more empathetic nurse.
“Sometimes, the greatest impact we make is simply letting someone know they are not alone.”
The unspoken part of nursing
Nurses often meet patients in their most vulnerable moments: when they feel alone, when nothing goes as planned, and when every decision feels uncertain. For Jhen, what a patient needs most is sometimes not only clinical knowledge but an open mind, a gentle touch and a listening ear. “Nursing is more than skills and procedures,” she says. “It is also about the independent interventions we provide through compassion, patience, and genuine presence.”
Finding her “why”
Along her journey, Jhen carried many “whys.” Why did she choose this career? Why did she have to work far from her family, sacrifice her own comfort and set aside her own priorities? At times she asked whether all these sacrifices were worth it. What she learned is that choosing a career is not only choosing a way of living; it is choosing the battles you are willing to face and the purpose you are willing to stand for.
“Nursing is more than a profession. It is a commitment of the heart, mind, and soul,” she says. Even when she feels exhausted or unwell, she continues to provide care because someone needs her at that moment. For her, healing is not only about treating illnesses but about understanding people, showing compassion and caring for the whole person.
“At the end of the journey, the only person you should compete with is the person you used to be. Become better than yesterday. Keep moving forward.”
Balancing a career and personal life is never easy, she admits. There are moments when you stumble, feel overwhelmed and question your strength, but you did not come this far just to give up. “Remember, you are not a tree planted in one place; you have the ability to move, grow, and choose a better direction.”
The Filipino touch: Knowledge, Skills and Attitude
“Being the backbone of the medical field is not just a responsibility; it is a privilege,” Jhen says. “I am proud to be a Filipino nurse, wherever my journey may take me.” She believes the special touch Filipino nurses bring comes from their culture, the values instilled by their families, their discipline and a genuine desire to uplift others, touching lives through compassion, concern, respect and the willingness to stand beside patients and colleagues in their most vulnerable moments.
For her, nursing is defined by KSA: Knowledge, Skills and Attitude. Knowledge guides decisions, skills allow safe and effective care, and attitude reflects the heart and character a nurse brings to the profession. Nursing, she says, is about becoming part of someone’s daily journey, understanding their needs and caring with empathy and respect, while embracing diversity and recognising the uniqueness of every person.
From the Philippines to Saudi Arabia to the UAE
Jhen’s biggest culture shock in the UAE was adapting to a new environment with different traditions, languages and ways of communicating. Having moved from the Philippines to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and then to the UAE, she knows that working abroad is not always about seeking wealth or success. Behind every journey are sacrifices, moments of loneliness and challenges that test one’s strength. What keeps her moving forward is the love and support of her family: “They are my fuel and my purpose.”
Mind, heart and spirit
Studying in a Christian nursing school taught Jhen more than the profession of caring for others. It taught her to balance mind, heart and spirit while embracing different cultures, beliefs and practices, a journey of growth, understanding and faith that molded her into a nurse with compassion, resilience and purpose.
Leading through a crisis
In a crisis, Jhen believes the first step is to manage herself, to stay calm and think clearly, while acknowledging that emotions and pressure can become overwhelming. “As a leader, your words and actions are not only for yourself; the people around you are watching, trusting, and placing their hopes in you,” she says. Leadership in difficult times requires a strategic plan, a compassionate heart and open ears, because solutions are often built through collaboration. A leader’s strength, she believes, is measured not only by how they overcome challenges but by how they inspire and support others through them.
“Working abroad comes with its own challenges. Burnout can happen even after many years of being away from home, because we are still human beings who continuously adapt to changes, pressures, and new environments. It is a process that does not happen overnight.
When you look back and realize how far you have come, it becomes a moment of pride, a reminder to give yourself a tap on the shoulder for surviving the silent battles you carried without having to tell everyone. Every sacrifice, every struggle, and every step forward has shaped the person you are today.”
Filipino Institute features Filipinos at home and abroad whose courage, sacrifice and success inspire others. Tell us your story, or nominate a kababayan whose journey deserves to be heard.
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